The CASS Astrophysics Seminar features world-class astrophysicists from around the world speaking on current topics of research. Presentations are aimed at the graduate and post-graduate level, but are open to the general public. CASS seminars take place on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. in 383 SERF (Marlar Seminar Room), unless otherwise noted. You can watch a live stream of the talk or prior talks at the CASS Seminar YouTube Channel. The organizers are Prof. Quinn Konopacky and Dr. Alexei Kritsuk.

Upcoming Seminars

Fall 2018

Winter 2019

January 9, 2019

NOTE: Beginning this week, all Astrophysics Seminars will be held from3:00-4:00pm unless otherwise noted

January 16, 2019

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is one of the next generation of so-called Extremely Large Telescopes, and currently the only one that will be sited in the northern hemisphere.

In this talk, I will describe the broad range of scientific goals of TMT, which take advantage of its high sensitivity, high spectral resolution and high spatial resolution. Such goals span studying the early Universe through to galactic evolution, star formation and exoplanet characterization. These science goals are being established and refined by our International Science Development Teams.

The construction and operation of the observatory is funded through an international partnership, with each partner contributing to the development and production of the observatory sub-systems. I will describe the status of those different sub-systems, highlighting the technical challenges that we need to overcome. I will also give an update on the choice of the site for TMT, given recent developments in Hawaii and Spain.

In order to strengthen the scientific motivation even further, TMT is looking to collaborate with the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). GMT will be located in the southern hemisphere, and this collaboration would therefore allow for access to the full sky. This initiative also aims to secure further funding for each separate telescope project: TMT, GMT the National Optical Astronomy Observatory aim to submit a joint proposal to the National Science Foundation which, if successful, would provide observing access to US astronomers that are currently not affiliated with the existing partners of TMT or GMT. I will provide an update on this initiative, which is being pursued against the backdrop of the next Decadal Survey of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

I will end the talk with a brief commentary on three dimensions of working within a complex international partnership. First is Culture. Second is Governance. And third is the broader landscape of international relations within which the TMT project is embedded.